How To Land Your Dream Job As Bar Manager

If I learned anything in life, it’s that bartending is a good career choice. Bartenders are always needed and are paid well for the work they do. 

But how does one become a bartender? It takes years of training and experience to get where you want to be as a bartender, but this article will give you some tips on how to land your dream job as bar manager!

Takeaways
Develop strong leadership and communication skills.
Gain experience in the hospitality industry and bar operations.
Showcase your knowledge of beverage selection and mixology.
Demonstrate your ability to manage inventory and control costs.
Focus on creating a welcoming and enjoyable bar atmosphere.
Build strong relationships with customers and provide exceptional service.
Stay updated on industry trends and continuously improve your skills.
Network with professionals in the field and seek mentorship opportunities.
Highlight your achievements and results in previous bar management roles.
Be adaptable, organized, and able to handle high-pressure situations.

1. Get Educated

To succeed as a bar manager, you’ll have to know the industry inside and out. This means studying the products, trends, history, and science behind every drink. 

You’ll also need to understand all aspects of bartending: from mixing drinks to stocking liquor cabinets; from refilling ice bins to cleaning out trash cans.

It’s not enough just knowing how to make a perfect Old Fashioned; you have to be able to answer questions about why this bar would choose one brand of bourbon over another (for example). 

And when it comes down to it knowing what brands are used by other bars in town will help you land your dream job.

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2. Make A Resume That Gets Noticed

You may not think that your resume or cover letter is very important, but it is. Your resume is your ticket to getting an interview, and the first step in landing your dream job as a bar manager. It’s also what employers use to decide whether or not you’re worth meeting up with. 

The same goes for your cover letter if you want to get noticed by hiring managers, then you need to make sure both documents are on point!

The next thing I recommend doing is building up a portfolio of some sort. It could be something as simple as a website or blog where you write about spirits and cocktails.

But whatever medium you choose (whether it’s digital or print), it should demonstrate what sets YOU apart from other applicants. The more unique content there is on there, the better!

Make sure these documents are professional looking too; nothing screams “amateur” more than sloppy fonts and poor grammar usage in any of these materials.”

3. Get Experienced

Once you’ve built a solid foundation and feel like you have a handle on the basics of hospitality, it’s time to start looking for your dream job as a bar manager. You should also be prepared to put in some serious work before landing that position.

In an interview with Food & Wine, former general manager of The Breslin and John Dory Oyster Bar at The Ace Hotel Sam Schroeder said that he started as a server at the restaurant and then worked his way up from there. 

He had no formal training or experience when he applied; instead, he relied on his passion for hospitality and customer service skills. “It helps if you can do everything,” Schroeder said about the importance of being able to do everything from bartending to serving tables.

“You’re going in blindfolded,” he added about entering an industry where there are no clear guidelines for success aside from hard work and dedication.

“You have no idea what’s going on behind closed doors,” Schroeder added about entering into an intense world where competition is fierce but friendly at times too

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4. Learn About Craft Beer, Wine, And Liquor

You should learn a lot about craft beer, wine, and liquor. It’s not enough to know what they are you need to understand why they’re delicious and how they’re made. Here are some ways you could do this:

Take a course in brewing at your local community college. You’ll learn about the chemistry behind beer making, as well as the history of different brews from around the world. 

The course will also teach you how to taste beer properly so that when customers ask for recommendations, you’ll be able to give them one based on their preferences rather than just giving them whatever looks good on tap (or in bottle).

Attend tasting events at local breweries or wineries where you can sample different styles of beverages from experts who know what they’re talking about or even better yet, talk directly with those experts yourself! They may have job openings at their establishments too!

5. Learn About Trends In The Industry

You need to know what’s going on in the industry. You may think you know everything that’s happening, but chances are there are some trends or news stories that you aren’t up on. If there is an event like a conference or awards ceremony, go to it! 

It’s a great opportunity for networking and learning about what other people are doing in different bars around the country.

It can be tough being an employee at first because there will be stuff outside of your control that makes it hard to do well at work or feel like you’re doing a good job. 

But if you have confidence in yourself and believe in your abilities, then no matter how much they try to knock you down or make things difficult, they will have trouble keeping you down for long!

6. Reach Out To Your Contacts

Start by reaching out to people you know and trusts, such as former supervisors or colleagues. Ask them if they know anyone who might be looking for a bar manager in your area. 

Once you’ve identified several potential leads, it’s time to make some calls, and if you don’t have a personal connection with these people.

LinkedIn (or another social media platform) is the place to start! Use LinkedIn’s search function to find connections who work at businesses in your target location and see if any of them are hiring for positions that match what you’re looking for.

Don’t forget about your friends’ connections too this can be an easy way to expand your network without having anyone think twice about whether or not they should help out with the request. 

It’s also important that once you do reach out through this method; keep following up until someone responds positively!

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7. Create A Portfolio And Website To Showcase Your Skills And Experience

Now that the portfolio and website are in place, you need to ensure they’re easy to use. If a potential employer wants to see your work, it needs to be simple for them. Ideally, all you’ll have to do is send them a link. 

A great first step would be creating a website with an online portfolio section where you can post all of your work (as well as provide links back).

Make sure the site is easy for visitors:

• It should be easy for visitors to navigate around the site and find what they’re looking for quickly
• The design should reflect who you are as a person or business
• You should always update your portfolio with new projects

8. Network Your Arse Off!

You’ve gone through the process, nailed your interview and now it’s finally time to land your dream job. There’s just one last thing: that pesky job offer. You can do it! But if you want to make sure that you get the job offer, then you need to start networking.

You might be thinking “I don’t know anyone who works as a bar manager, so how am I supposed to network?” Well, there are two ways of doing this: 

1) You could go out and find people who work as bar managers or 2) The other way is by making connections with people in positions similar to yours. 

The best way for this is via social media because let’s face it; social media is where we all spend most of our time these days (if not all day long).

If there was ever a reason why all these tech giants like Facebook and Twitter exist – it’s for connecting people from different backgrounds with each other so they can share ideas and experiences about things relevant to them like their careers!

9. Don’t Be Afraid Of Social Media

Social media is a great way to get the word out about your skills, but it’s important not to rely solely on this method. 

Landing an amazing job opportunity is all about building relationships with people. Social media can be used as a tool for connecting with those people and building a portfolio of your experiences and knowledge through posts, photos, videos, and more.

However, don’t be afraid to share your failures! It’s okay if something doesn’t go well or if you encounter some difficulty along the way everyone does at one point or another. 

Share these moments so that others know they are not alone in their struggles, but also use them as learning opportunities from which you can grow stronger and better equipped for future challenges.

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10. Offer Your Services As A Consultant, And Do It For Free If You Need To

If you want to work as a bar manager, there are some things that you can do to get your foot in the door. For example, offer to help out at a local bar or restaurant. 

You could volunteer during off-hours when they’re not busy and demonstrate what you’ve learned from this article so far. They might decide that they like having you around!

If working at a local brewery sounds more up your alley, ask if they need any assistance with brewing or packaging beer. 

If they don’t have room for an employee right now but would like some help doing anything else with their business such as marketing or accounting offer those services instead.

If working in wine sales sounds appealing, consider applying at an upscale grocer or gourmet grocery store near where you live (or even further away if there aren’t any nearby). They might be able to use someone who knows their way around fine wines and high-end spirits!

Likewise with liquor stores: if there isn’t one where you live yet but there is one close by (within a couple of hours), call them up and let them know about yourself! 

If nothing else maybe they’ll recommend another place closer by that does sell liquor -and then maybe someday down the line when ours opens up again we’ll hire

11. Be Professional- Make Sure Bartenders Are Properly Dressed And Well Groomed, Greet Guests Appropriately, Respond Quickly To Requests, Etc

1. Dress Appropriately

It’s important to look professional at all times. If you’re bartending, you’ll likely be required to wear a uniform or specific attire that your employer provides. 

Wearing the right clothes will help set the tone for the bar, which in turn will make customers feel more comfortable and relaxed when they visit your establishment. When in doubt about what to wear, ask your employer if there are any dress code requirements before making a purchase!

2. Be Polite And Courteous With Guests At All Times (Even When Things Get Busy)

It can be easy for people to get overwhelmed when things get busy behind the bar, especially during an event where multiple people are trying their hand at mixing drinks but remember: no matter how busy it gets, it’s always important to be courteous towards everyone who visits your establishment! 

For example: if someone orders something from you but decides not to want their drink anymore once they’ve had their first sip then let them know politely why so that way there won’t be any confusion later down the road; 

If someone asks for recommendations on what kind of martini would taste best with their meal then give them some ideas along with some tips on how much alcohol should go into each drink based on what type of meal is being served too!

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12. Relax- Don’t Let Yourself Get Overwhelmed Or Stressed Out- Things Happen! Learn How To Handle Them With Grace And Dignity! Autogenerated!

Once you have a plan in place for landing your dream job, the next step is to relax. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed or stressed out things happen! Learn how to handle them with grace and dignity.

Be calm and collected. Have confidence, even when things are rough around you.

Don’t take things personally or too seriously; if something happens that’s not working out, don’t feel like it’s just because of you personally.

But rather take a moment to think about all the people involved in making decisions on who gets hired at different times and places (or if they could’ve made better choices themselves).

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; they’re part of what makes us human beings and help us grow as individuals! Every time we fail at something new means another opportunity for growth later down the road when we try again later on down life’s path 😉

Ask questions: There may be some areas where you need more help than others so don’t hesitate to ask questions if needed!

Conclusion

You’re on your way to becoming the best bar manager ever! It may take some time and effort, but with our tips, you’ll be a pro before you know it!

Further Reading

How to Succeed as a Bar Manager: Discover valuable tips and insights on how to excel in your role as a bar manager and create a thriving establishment.

How to Become a Bar Manager: Learn about the steps and skills required to pursue a career as a bar manager, including gaining experience, developing leadership abilities, and more.

Bar Manager Resume Examples: Get inspired by a collection of professionally crafted resume examples for bar managers. Enhance your own resume with effective formats, keywords, and achievements specific to the role.

Now, here’s the FAQs section:

FAQs

What are the key responsibilities of a bar manager?

A bar manager’s responsibilities typically include overseeing daily operations, managing staff, maintaining inventory, ensuring customer satisfaction, and implementing marketing strategies.

What skills are essential for a successful bar manager?

To succeed as a bar manager, important skills include leadership abilities, excellent communication and organizational skills, knowledge of beverage operations, customer service expertise, and the ability to handle high-pressure situations.

What qualifications or experience do I need to become a bar manager?

While specific requirements may vary, relevant experience in the hospitality industry, strong knowledge of bar operations, and a background in customer service are often valued. Some establishments may also require certifications in alcohol safety and management.

How can I effectively manage a bar’s inventory?

Effective inventory management involves implementing proper stock control systems, conducting regular inventory counts, monitoring usage patterns, establishing relationships with suppliers, and minimizing waste.

How can I create a successful bar atmosphere and attract customers?

To create a successful bar atmosphere, focus on factors such as ambiance, music, decor, and offering a diverse selection of quality beverages. Implement effective marketing strategies, build relationships with the local community, and provide exceptional customer service to attract and retain customers.